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<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">Hi everyone,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"><br>
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<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">Gerry is in favor of bringing up the idea of free or low-cost college for discussion in our upcoming meeting to be considered as one possible
focus for our legislative efforts. I mentioned in a previous email that in our last FACTC meeting, Devin from SBCTC presented data on poor college completion across the USA - roughly 50% college drop out rate. The numbers were not much better in WA either.
If I remember correctly, we were told that the state of Tennessee since started making education in community and tech colleges free (or almost free) has seen a 10% increase in college attainment. Given this significant improvement rate of success in post-secondary
educational attainment over a short period of only few years, why shouldn't we discuss with WA legislators the possibility of replicating a similar model of low-cost education in WA? I also look forward to hear your ideas about how to move forward in working
with the lawmakers to increase the educational attainment. If drastic changes such as aiming for free community and technical college education is too ambitious and a hard to reach goal, smaller steps can be taken toward achieving an increase in the post-secondary
attainment. For example, a small step would be to ask the lawmakers for <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">
work on a bill that allow 9th grade high school students </span>attend college in the high school program (CHS). A strong argument in support of this proposal can be:</span></p>
<p style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">there are many 9th grade students who have strong educational background and the desire to take college credit courses but are not allowed
to enroll in the CHS due to the state laws. This is difficult to reconcile given that the current law allows for the very same 9th grade students to enroll in the Running Start program. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">Joyce Carroll, our Associate Dean, Office of Instruction, kindly agreed that I share below letter regarding her correspondence with the 9th grade students interested in enrolling
for the CHS in Bellevue College. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">Thank you for your patience and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">BTW, the weather is beautiful in Bellevue, I hope it is the same in your neck of the woods.
<br>
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""><br>
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">Reza<br>
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">PS. Arlen, I appreciate your feedback on this proposal.<br>
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""><br>
</span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">Hi Reza,</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">So far, we’ve had to turn away twelve 9<sup>th</sup> grade students who wanted to register for college credit through College in the High School.
Here is the email they are sent:</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Dear College in the High School Student,</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">According to the information we received with your College in the High School application, you are currently in the 9<sup>th</sup> grade (graduation year of 202</span><span style="color:#1F497D">1</span><span style="color:black">).
We are not able to complete your application process at this time. Current law (HB 1546) clearly states that 10<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, and 12<sup>th</sup> grade students (only) are eligible to enroll in a CHS course. Neither the Office of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction nor the Bellevue College CHS program have the authority to “waive” this law or in any way approve an exception.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">While we certainly agree in philosophy about the capability of freshmen to succeed in a college-level course, the only way freshmen will be able to earn college credit through a College
in the High School course is if the law is changed. We encourage you to contact your local legislators to share your story and advocate for a change in this law.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><u><span style="color:black">If you feel an error was made, please provide us with your correct graduation year.
</span></u><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black">Sincerely,</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">The law is especially punitive for students in our area who have multiple opportunities to take higher level courses in middle school, especially
in the areas of math and world languages. When transitioning into high school, the counselors review students previous course work and use that to inform their high school choices. If that happens to land 9<sup>th</sup> grade students in CHS courses it’s too
bad for them because they can’t earn the college credit, even if they can perform at a high level. When they enter the 10<sup>th</sup> grade, there is no option for them to go back and request credit for the previous year. Additionally, if they have begun
a sequence in math or in a world language, they may be blocked from earning college credit for other CHS courses. On paper it will look like they have not met course prerequisites.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"">Joyce</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Candara",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont""> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(47,84,150)">Joyce Carroll</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(50,62,79)">
| </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(31,56,100)">Associate Dean, Office of Instruction</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<p class="x_xmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(31,56,100)">Bellevue College</span><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black">
|</span><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(31,56,100)"> 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue WA 98007-6484</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"></span></p>
<span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(31,56,100)">425.564.2257</span><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:black"> |</span><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif,serif,"EmojiFont"; color:rgb(0,112,192)">
<a href="mailto:jocarrol@bellevuecollege.edu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" id="LPlnk900329" previewremoved="true">
<span style="color:#0070C0">joyce.carroll@bellevuecollege.edu</span></a></span><br>
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